RE: PH Fleet: Lexus LS400/TVR Chimaera 400

[carinaman]

It's just me that was comparing the size of that Focus to the Lexus?

Is an S class from that period or newer likely to be put together any better than that Lexus?

[someday]

Waugh-terfall said:

I've travelled on the National Express 030 from London Victoria to Hindhead several times, on every occasion the coach's horn got exercise, curbs were mounted, heavy braking, you name it. On the second occasion I sat at the front the driver went mental several times, mouthing off at Taxi's, cyclists, other motorists, flicking the V's, the coffee beans etc, used the horn more times than I've had hot dinners and got knows how he avoided a few cars through stupid moves I don't know, made numerous iffy undertakes on the A3 out of London too. Seems what you've experienced is standard procedure...

National Distress running times meant to be some of the tightest in the industry.

[Dan M]

I had the same otter switch issue, I just bridged the two terminals with a hairclip supplied by my girlfriend. She didn't realise I was going to scrape off the coating and mangle it a bit, but when the fans fired up all was forgiven.

[Garlick]

LordFlathead said:

What the feck is an Otter Switch

It's turns the fans on

ST150HB said:

122db....lovely!

122.4 to be precise A little antisocial, but excellent fun all the same.

carinaman said:

It's just me that was comparing the size of that Focus to the Lexus?

Is an S class from that period or newer likely to be put together any better than that Lexus?

I parked it in that space too, hence taking the proud photo after finishing the manoeuvre. Having driven many S-Class, 7-series and A8's I don't think any are as tightly screwed together as an LS. Genuinely.

[Garlick]

Waugh-terfall said:

I've travelled on the National Express 030....... Seems what you've experienced is standard procedure...

I'm not surprised after seeing him drive, I'll watch out for that particular numbered coach next time.

[K2MDL]

robsco said:

Because when it breaks, the engine gets otter and otter...

That's good

I had two new LS400's back in the early ninetees and a new Soarer (with the same V8 LS400 engine) that I dragged in from Japan myself at £36k!!! You'd get at least 10 for that price now! The LS was a cheap alternative to the S Class and loaded with kit at no cost. They look very very aged now but that engine is a total gem and in its time it felt great to waft around in and was considered the more sensible option to the S Class too. Even today I think that 3d dashboard looks the nuts.

Edited by K2MDL on Friday 1st June 07:37

[angusc43]

vit4 said:

The '12-plate white 2.0tdi VAGbox on finance to save money' brigade must explode when they see your garage

It's Mumsnet Cryptonite.

[jbi]

carinaman said:

It's just me that was comparing the size of that Focus to the Lexus?

Focus is 171 inches long

LS400 is 196.7 inches long

[iantek]

Persevere with the bus company. My old 306 shed got a new paint job on one side from a First bus getting too cosy in Bolton whilst parked on the road. I complained and they came and colleceted the car and returned it the next day all shiny and fixed. It looked better than ever!

[Alfa numeric]

Garlick said:

As for that National Express coach

Not the done thing I know, but as you're a member of the press (and you've mentioned it on a public forum) might a phonecall to their press department be in order? An answer might me more forthcoming...

[carinaman]

jbi said:

carinaman said:

It's just me that was comparing the size of that Focus to the Lexus?

Focus is 171 inches long

LS400 is 196.7 inches long

Two feet is quite a lot. Perhaps it's the perspective but that Focus looks as wide and taller. I guess I was thinking that ever larger cars had made the LS size less of an issue.

[richardxjr]

carinaman said:

Two feet is quite a lot. Perhaps it's the perspective but that Focus looks as wide and taller. I guess I was thinking that ever larger cars had made the LS size less of an issue.

No. Even today, the LS is massive Long and wide, but not tall though. Weirdly, parking sensors weren't even an option so you need to be a confident parker.

Out of all the barges I've had though, this is the only one that my missus is more than happy to drive.

[Garlick]

richardxjr said:

No. Even today, the LS is massive Long and wide, but not tall though. Weirdly, parking sensors weren't even an option so you need to be a confident parker.

Out of all the barges I've had though, this is the only one that my missus is more than happy to drive.

It is rather wide and the lead image is my street so I have got used to parking it in tight spaces.

[griffdude]

Hey Garlic,

have a look at mod-wise.co.uk, there's a 2 stage fan kit that really helps out in higher temps, plus a hot start kit which is useful for starting up after a warm run on an autoroute.

HTH

[MarJay]

An otter switch is simply a switch that you switch when it gets 'otter.

:-]

[Garlick]

griffdude said:

Hey Garlic,

have a look at mod-wise.co.uk, there's a 2 stage fan kit that really helps out in higher temps, plus a hot start kit which is useful for starting up after a warm run on an autoroute.

HTH

Thank you.

[Waugh-terfall]

I wonder what Harsh's 360 would manage on a Decibel Meter... I think a sound off is in order!

MarJay said:

An otter switch is simply a switch that you switch when it gets 'otter.

:-]

[_Neal_]

Noisy said:

It's worth getting a fan overide switch installed while having the otter switch changed, means if it ever happens again you can manually turn on the fans.

Absolutely agree with this - my Chimaera 400 did its otter switch on the South Circular, had to hang around a while waiting for traffic to die down before limping it home. I bridged the fans with a paperclip then got the ottter switch replaced (I think you can get one that kicks the fans in at a lower temperature too, worth getting) and had a fan override switch installed.

Classic TVR issue, and the only time by Chimaera let me down. As I understand it, the otter switch (which senses heat) is itself damaged by heat. Well played TVR.

[jbi]

richardxjr said:

No. Even today, the LS is massive Long and wide, but not tall though. Weirdly, parking sensors weren't even an option so you need to be a confident parker.

The LS400 and ford focus are exactly the same width at 72 inches

The LS400's lack of height makes it look bigger than it really is

It is only 4 inches longer than the new Mondeo and actually one inch narrower

[Garlick]

jbi said:

The LS400 and ford focus are exactly the same width at 72 inches

Really? Well I never. Sometimes it (the LS) struggles to squeeze through London gaps near my house.